Do you have a desire to work in the field of Chemical Dependency Counseling but need the required education to obtain certification? You are not here by accident! Whether you were referred to us by the CAADAC (California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors) website at www.caadac.org where we are listed as an Officially Approved school or referred to us by a friend who is a Centaur Alumnus or by a treatment center or sober living facility - WE CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR EDUCATIONAL GOALS!  Upon completion of our Chemical Dependency Counseling (CDC) Program, you will be able to work as a counselor immediately and will be eligible for the CAADAC Exam / Certification!

CALL TO GET STARTED TODAY AT 949.646.8018

Centaur University's fast track CDC certification, specialty CDC certification for MFTs and stand-alone Practicum programs provide students with the classroom education needed to begin or advance their career in the field of Chemical Dependency Counseling. All programs allow students to receive a counseling certificate in 3-8 months and are specifically designed to meet CAADAC's requirements. Courses are available IN THE CLASSROOM or ONLINE.

Centaur University's Fast track CDC Certification Program consists of 6 core phases (270 hrs) plus a 45 hr Practicum and 255 hr Internship. Phases 1-6 are offered IN-CLASS Mon-Fri for 3 months / Saturdays Only for 8 months, or ONLINE Mon-Wed for 6 months. The Practicum Course / Internship last 11 weeks and are taken following completion of phases 1-6 or concurrently if you are already working in the CDC field, are in the Saturday course, or are an MFT.

Our stand-alone Practicum Course offers students who have completed their core classroom credits/hours (with us or elsewhere) quality supervision for completing their 255 hr Internship at an approved facility as well as the 45 hrs of Practicum classes necessary to earn our CDC Certificate and to take the CAADAC exam - the Practicum course takes place once weekly Tuesdays nights for 11 weeks IN-CLASS or ONLINE.

Our optional fast track CDC Program for MFTs provides therapists the CDC classes needed to obtain full certification in Chemical Dependency Counseling. This is an abbreviated version of our entire Chemical Dependency Counseling program, designed for MFTs who desire a specific CDC designation/certification for their work with Substance Abuse patients. It consists of phases 1,2,4 and 6 of the full CDC program plus the Practicum course/Internship. This program is offered to MFTs both IN-CLASS Mon - Fri for 3 months/Sat only for 6 months or ONLINE for 4 months.

Please see certification program - class schedule for class start dates and times. For more information on any of the above Centaur CDC program options, call us at 949.646.8018 or email us today at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We will happily answer all your questions so you can get started. Our CDC program is a comprehensive yet quick way to establish or enhance your career in the field of Chemical Dependency Treatment at a very competitive price. We are not aware of any full CAADAC qualified in-class counselor program in Orange County that costs less than ours.* We also offer options for tuition payment. Please visit our Tuition Fees page to find the best solution for you.

Our staff is very highly qualified in terms of both education and experience in the fields of Chemical Dependency Counseling and Mental Health. Most of our instructors are both nationally and internationally certified and all are committed to their craft and to their students. Our low student-to-instructor ratio ensures each student the best quality in education and personal attention to achieve maximum results.

You can be counseling at a treatment center in 3 months as an intern and in 6 months as a Certified CD Counselor on a treatment center payroll! Chemical Dependency Counseling is a wonderfully rewarding career field that is full of opportunities and growing at a high rate (the Employment Development Department's  projected growth increase for employment of Substance Abuse Counselors in California is 35.4% (from 2006-2016) .

* (other than a community college 2-year program)